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Stories from Buddhism: Dao Shun

Mu Mu

PureInsight | April 26, 2007

[PureInsight.org] People didn't know where Shi Dao Shun was from. He built a thatched cottage in a quiet secluded place for himself. He often talked about things that happened at Qingyuan. He was once lived in a cottage he built on Yangtou Mountain in Zezhou. Dao Shun didn't have any savings and he only ate one meal a day. The rest of the time he just did meditation. Snakes and rats often hid under his bed and they lived in peace with each other. Once a tiger came to his cottage and Dao Shun spoke about the dharma to it. Once a person came to visit him. When he saw the tiger, he turned around and left. He told Dao Shun he 'd come back when the tiger left. Dao Shun Told the tiger: "I will have a visitor tomorrow so don't come here tomorrow."

During early part of the Kaihuang era in the Sui dynasty, Dao Shun often interpreted the dharma to villagers and initiated many villagers into becoming monks and nuns. But he refused to initiate one woman. He told her: "You will be reincarnated as a cow. The appearance is already there. I can not save you even if I initiate you to become a nun." Some people didn't believe him. Dao Shun told them: "Those who don't believe it can step on the shadow of the tail behind her and she won't be able to move." Those who had doubts stepped on the shadow behind her. The woman surely couldn't move. Every one was shocked and believed that what Dao Shun was telling was the truth.

The woman pleaded with Dao Shun to eliminate her karma. Out of fear, she gave away tens of thousands of dan (unit of grain) of grain that her family owned. Dao Shun allowed her to render sincere reverent repentance for a period of time. When her karma had disappeared, he then initiated her.

Later, Dao Shun traveled to various mountains. No one knew his whereabouts.